Cooking apparatus



July 2,1935. I HUNTER 2,006,832 I COOKING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FICi-I WITNESSES INVEN TOR:

y 1935- I H. T. HUNTER 2,006,832

COOKING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

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July 2, 1935. H. T. HUNTER COOKING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F1671 JZZ Fla; 2%

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WITNESSES Patented July 2, 1935 I. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COOKING APPARATUS Herbert T. Hunter, Baltimore Md assignor to Doughnut Machine Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 11, 1931, Serial No. 536,519

7 Claims. (01. 53- 1) My invention relates to cooking apparatus in hot cooking liquor is maintained at the constant which hot liquor is employed as the cooking level indicated at L. The raw doughnuts D, medium. D, D etc. are introduced into the right hand More particularly, my invention is concerned end (as considered in Fig. I) of the receptacle 5 with cooking apparatus of the type exemplified ill, and progressed lengthwise of the latter afloat 5 in a co-pending application, Serial No. 370,559, in the cooking liquor, by a unitary conveyor ll filed by me on June 13, 1929, for producing consisting of a pair of endless sprocket chains l2 doughnuts and the like, which matured as U. and a series of uniformly spaced cross bar's B, 13

S. Patent No. 1,823,146, dated September 15, B etc., that set apart individual cells C, C

1931. In the apparatus of the patent supra, C etc., for maintenance of the doughnuts D in 10 the doughnuts are maintained in definite separadefinite separation. It is to be assumed that tion incident to progression afloat in an elonthe conveyor H is continuously operated by suitgated receptacle containing the hot cooking able drive mechanism not shown, at a relatively liquor, by a pair of serially arranged cellular slow uniform rate of speed so that the doughnuts 15 conveyors, and after having traversed about half D are fully coeked by the time they reach the 15 the length of the receptacle, the doughnuts are opposite end of the receptacle after having turned over and at the same time transferred floated first on one side and then on the other successively from the cells of one conveyor to in the liquor. the cells of the other conveyor by mechanism The functi n of turning over the doughnuts on Operating ntly in an interval between D andat the same time transferring them suc- '20 the two co yors. cessively between adjacent cells of the conveyor The main objects of my present invention are is vested in the manipulating mechanism comto dispense with the necessity for subdividing prehen'sively designated by the numeral I5. the conveying means as was the case in the This manipulating mechanism is located subapparatus of the pat nt referred to v and stantiall y midway of the length of the cooking 25 to provide asimpler form of manipulating mechvreceptacle l0 and operates for the most part anism which is continuous in its operation and submerged in a depression or pocket Illa of the subject t the direct control of the conv yin said receptacle. As shown in Fig. I, the lower means WithOllt the aid 01' intermediary timing run .of the conveyor II is diverted downward connections, and which is moreover capable of into the depression or pocket 10a by directional 30 temporarily traveling along with the said consprocket pinions l1 and I8 so as to be entirely veying means as it performs the function of clear of the ma'nipulating mechanism. Formsuccessively turning the doughnuts over inciing a part of the manipulating mechanism is a nt t0 tTanSfeTYiIlg them o O C y horizontal frame-like element 20 comprising two cell to another. spaced parallel longitudinal side bars 2| which 35 Other objects and attendant advantages of are joined at one end by a transverse member this invention will be manifest from the detailed 22. At their opposite ends, the longitudinals Zlj description following of the accompanying drawof the element 20 are slotted as at 23 for sliding i w e I is a fragmentary giguidance by a rod 24 which extends crosswise tudinal sectional view of a doughnut C o between a pair of conveyor chain supporting 40 apparatus conveniently embodying the present rails 25 within the receptacle I0. Upstanding improvements. projections 26; at the forward end of the ele- Fig. II is a cross section of the apparatus ment 20 are pierced near their bottoms for taken as indicated by the arrows IIII in Fig. I. pivotal engagement with a crank rod 21 join- Figs. III, IV and V are perspective views of ing a pair of disk heads 28, see Figs. II and IV, 45 certain of t e parts of the doughnut maniputhe ends of the said crank rod being rigidly lating mechanism of the apparatus; and, secured against the possibility of rotation in Figs. VI, VII and VIII are diagrammatic longithe disk heads. From Fig. II it will be noted tudinal sectional views, corresponding generally that the disk heads 28 are respectively connected to Fig. 1, showing the conveying means and the to apair of axially-aligned transversely-arranged 5'0 .manipulating means in successive positions durshafts 29 having submerged journal support in ing the turning and transferring of a doughnut. separate bearing brackets 30 which reach down As delineated in Figs. I and II of these illusfrom frame angles 3| extending along opposite trations, my improved cooking apparatus comsides of the top receptacle ill at the exterior.

.55 prises an elongate receptacle ID in which the 'The shafts 29 are-yieldingly driven in the direcand VII.

from beneath.

' Fig. VI.

. the driving disks 32. V to move upward in the cell C of the conveyor I I, it lifts the doughnut-D within that cell as in sprocket chains 36 with a jack shaft 31 which bridges the receptacle I0, and which, as shown in Figs. I and II, is journalled in bearings 38 upstanding from the'frame angles 3| previously referred to. For a reason later on explained, the jack shaft 31 is rotated at avery much higher speed than the conveyor H, through a sprocket chain connection 39 with the drive mechanism (not shown) of the apparatus. Disposed between the upward projections 26 of the .frame-like element 20 and pivoted to the upper ends is a hand or transfer device 40. This hand T or transfer device 40 is in the present instance made from sheet metal with a perforated doughnut engaging surface 4|. and upward guards 42 at its opposite sides, see Fig. III. A perpendicular flange or projection 43 at the forward end of 'the surface 4| of the hand 40 operates as a heel to support the doughnuts on edge as they are being turned and transferred, see Fig. I. A link '45 having loose pivotal connections between a short eccentric offset 46 of the crank rod 2'! and I a pivot lug 41' depending centrally from the hand 40 somewhat beyond its pivot axis, is instrumental in swinging the said hand up and down during each operation of the manipulating mechanism in a manner to be presently described.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: By virtue of its slotted connections 23 at one end with the fixed guide rod 24 and its pivotal connection at the forward end to the crank rod 21 joining the two rotating'disk heads 28, the frame-like element 20 is 'reciprocated back and forth horizontally within the receptacle l0. As a consequence of being carried by the rotating end of the frame-like element 20, the hand 40 is caused'to'trace a circular path for capacity to move upand down in'each cell of the conveyor II and to travel along temporarily with the conveyor H as a doughnut is transferred inverted to the cell ahead in the direction of progression. In performing the turning and "transferring cycle, the parts of, the manipulating mechanism l5 assume the successive positions illustrated respectively in Figs. VIII, VI, I

Thus in Fig. VIII the doughnut engaging hand 40 is substantially horizontal and about to enter the cell C of the conveyor ll upward projections 26 of the frame-like element 20 encounter the vane B of the conveyor as in Thereafter, the frame-like element 20 is restrained by the conveyor II and obliged to travel slowly forwardly with-it, this being made possible through concurrent slippage between the friction springs 35 on the disk heads 28 and As the hand 40 continues Fig. VI, and is finally swung upward on its pivot axis to the position shown in Fig. I through the thrust communicated to the coupling link 45 by J the action of the eccentric offset 46 in the crank rod 21.

The doughnut D" is thereby turned on the heel of the hand 40'and-at the same time The rotation of the shafts 29 'at this time rapid and continues so until the transferred over the cross bar B of the conveyor into the cell C directly ahead in the direction of progression. During continued progression of the conveyor II and attendant forward passage of its cross bar B over the axes of the disk heads 28, the hand 40 is swung back on its pivot connection with the frame-like element 20 by reverse action of the eccentric offset 46 in the crank rod 21 and concurrently caused to recede' downwardly in the conveyor cell C, as shown in Fig. VII, the upward projections 26 of the framelike element remaining all the while in contact withthe said bar B. Eventually upon disengagement of the projections 26 of the element 20 from the cross bar B of the conveyor, the mechanism I5 is immediately driven at full speed with the result that the hand 40 is quickly swung into the next succeeding conveyor cell C in readiness to turn the doughnut D in that cell, in exactly the same manner as described with regard to the turning of the doughnut D, In this connection it is important to note that the conveyor cross bars B, B, etc. are cut away at the ends as at 4B in Fig. II to clear the longitudinals 2| of the frame-like element 20 when in its lowermost position as viewed in Fig. VIII, and as will be appreciated on an examination of Fig. I; also that fixed skids 49 are provided along the opposite sides of the cooking receptacle In to prevent lifting of the upper run of the conveyor ll while the hand 40 is being thrust upward through the conveyor cells.

From the foregoing it. will be evident that the manipulating means is positive in its action, and, as a consequence of being controlleddirectly by the conveyor, it cannot possibly become untimed with relation to the operation of the latter. The manipulating mechanism is further unique in that it does not require any adjustment whatsoever, it being therefore reliable in its action and entirely free from the possibility of derangement over long periods of continued use.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction and arrangement specifically set forth herein, sincerthese are subject to considerable variation in practice without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined'in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a conveying means with cross bars setting apart a' series of cells to maintain the doughnuts indefinite separation incident to progression afloat in hot cooking liquor; and manipulating mechanism including a hand, a pivoted support for the hand, means determining a circular pathrfor the pivotal support,

thereby to carry the hand up and down successively through the cells of the conveying means and at the same time cause it to travel along horizontally with the conveying means tempo- .rarily; and means for'swin'ging the hand on its pivot incident to upward movement in each cell of the conveying means to transfer the doughnut from such cell to an adjacent cell over the intervening subdividing bar.

2. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a slowly moving conveying means with cells to maintain the doughnuts in definite'separation incident to progression afloat in hotcooking liquor; and manipulating mechanism including a pivoted hand, a pivoted support for the hand, rotary means confining the pivotal support to a circular path to carry the hand up and down through the cells of the conveying means successively and at the same time cause it to travel horizontally along with the conveying means temporarily; means for swinging the hand on its pivot incident to upward movement in each cell of the conveying means to transfer the doughnut from such cell to a cell ahead in the direction of travel, and means for yieldingly driving the rotary means aforesaid to effect, after each turning operation, rapid transition of the hand from the empty conveyor cell to a succeeding cell in readiness to repeat the transfer operation but permit the hand to take the slower speed of the conveyor incident to travelling with the latter as aforesaid.

3. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a slowly moving conveying means with cells to maintain the doughnuts in definite separation incident to progression afloat in hot cooking liquor; and manipulating mechanism including a hand, a pivotal support for the hand, a rotary means confining the pivotal support to a circular path to carry the hand up and down through the cells of the conveying means successively and at the same time cause it to travel horizontally with the conveying means temporarily; means for swinging the hand on its pivot incident to upward movement in each cell of the conveying means to transfer the doughnut from such cell to a cell ahead in the direction of progression, and friction means for driving the rotary means aforesaid to effect, after each transfer operation, rapid transition of the hand from the empty cell of the conveying means to a succeeding cell in readiness to repeat the transfer operation, but permitting the hand to take the slower speed of the conveying means during travel with the latter as aforesaid.

4. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a conveyor with cells to maintain the doughnuts in definite separation incident to progression afloat in hot cooking liquor; and cooperating doughnut manipulating means including a horizontal element with guidance for reciprocation back and forth beneath the conveyor, a hand supported with capacity for swinging movement from a horizontal to a ver- I tical position on one end of the element aforesaid, a rotating member affording a crank center to which the hand carrying end of the horizontal element is pivotally connected and whereby the hand is confined to a circular path for capacity to move up and down through the cells of the conveyor successively and at the same time to travel horizontally along with the conveyor temporarily, and means for swinging the hand incident to bodily movement upward in each conveyor cell to transfer the doughnut from such cell to an adjacent cell.

5. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a slowly moving conveyor with cells to maintain the doughnuts in definite separation incident to progression afloat in hot cooking liquor; and cooperating doughnut manipulating means including a horizontal element with guidance for reciprocation back and forth beneath the conveyor, a hand supported with capacity for swinging movement from a horizontal to a vertical position on one end of the element aforesaid, a rotating member affording a crank center to which the hand carrying end of the horizontal element is pivotally connected and whereby the hand is confined to a circular path for capacity to move up and down through the cells of the conveyor successively and at the same time to travel horizontally along with the conveyor temporarily, means for swinging the hand incident to bodily movement upward in each conveyor cell of the conveying means to transfer the doughnut from such cell to the cell ahead in the direction of progression, and friction means for driving the rotating member aforesaid to effect, after each transfer operation, rapid transition of the hand from the empty conveyor cell to a succeeding cell in readiness to repeat the transfer operation, but permitting the hand to take the slower speed of the conveyor during travel with the latter as aforesaid.

6. In apparatus for cooking doughnuts and the like, a slowly moving conveyor with cells to maintain the doughnuts in definite separation incident to progression afloat in hot cooking liquor; and cooperating doughnut manipulating means including a horizontal element with guidance for reciprocation back and forth beneath the conveyor, a hand supported, with capacity for swinging movement from a horizontal to a vertical position, on one end of the element aforesaid, a rotating member affording a crank center to which the hand carrying end of the horizontal element is pivotally connected and whereby the hand is confined to a circular path for capacity to move up and down through the conveyor cells successively and at the same time totravel horizontally along with the conveyor temporarily, and a link connecting the hand to an eccentric offset of the crank center aforesaid, whereby, incident to bodily movement upward in each conveyor cell, the hand is swung to transfer the doughnut from such cell to an adjacent cell.

7. In apparatus for cooking articles, such as doughnuts and the like, conveyor means with cells to maintain the articles in definite separation while progressed afloat in hot cooking liquor, manipulator means in the form of a pivotally-mounted element whereby the articles are transferred inverted from one conveyor cell to the cell ahead in the direction of progression, and mechanism whereby the pivot axis of said element is reciprocated horizontally with concurrent tracing of a circular up-and-down path into and out of the conveyor cells, said element when in the cell being temporarily restrained by the conveyor and simultaneously swung vertically to effect the article transfer operation.

HERBERT T. HUNTER. 

